Electric-fixture-display device



- C. K. THEOBALD.

515cm 1 XTURE LAY osvme.

. APPL ON FILE .12,19Z1.

- Patented May 9221 3 SHEETS- 1.

C. K. THEOBALD.

ELECTRIC FIXTURE DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12. 1921.

Patented May 30, 1922..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

."fhenbald 1 Charles K I W m C. K. THEOBALD- ELECTRIC FIXTURE DISPLAYDEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED on. 12. 1921.

1,418,215. ted M y 30, 19221.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Svmmwtm Charles -Thenhald artistic effect is alsodestroyed; I

It is with the ahove facts in view that I rras CHARLES K. TnEoBA-Lnorrolvnsnono, ARKANSAS.

ELECTRIC-FIXTURE-DI$PI1AY DEVICE.

To all 10 fi o m it may condemn v c v m 7 Be t known that l, cinxannsls. lHEonALD, a citizen of the United States, res1d1ng at Jonesboro, inthe-county of-Criaighead and State of Arkansas, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements inElectricli ixtureDisplay';Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings. This invention relates to display devices and hasfor its object the provision of mechanism for use in the showroom ofelectric fixture dealers whereby fixtures'may be successively displayedvin an attractive manner.

Ordinarily fixtures on display in the exhibition rooms or stores ofdealers ofthis character are suspended from the ceiling in greatprofusionand when a prospective pur chaser desires to inspect thedifferent fixtures the. large number of them frequently causesconfusion. especially, as it is impossible to view one particularfixture by itself. The

have designed the present invention which contemplates the provision ofmeans whereby selected fixtures may be successively lowered through ahole in a false ceiling built into the display room so that only onefixture will be seen at a time and so the entire artistic effect maybehad and the article be displayed in a pleasing and attractive manner.More specifically the invention resides in the provision of a rotatablesup-port carrying a series of arms from which the different fixtures aresuspended 'abovejthe false ceiling, the construction being such that anyone 'xture may be brought into registration with a hole in the falseceiling and lowered therethrough. v

i-another object is the provision of a novel locking device associatedwith the fixture carrying arms" whereby to'hold them at the properposit-ion with the fixture in exact registration with the hole, thislocking means acting automatically and'being manually releasable when itis'desired to display a different fixture. I i

A further object isthe provision of guide means whereby not only toinsure the proper centeringof the fixture with respect to the hole inthe sub-ceiling but also to insureproper descent of the fixture throughthe hole without permitting any twisting or turning.

v sition Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d pl 30 1922Application filed October 12. -1921.- SerialNo. 507,319.

Stillanother object is the provision of an toinatic means whereby thefixture will be lighted when it reaches its display position,

.the'lights beingextinguished when the fixture is subsequently raisedout of the hole,

this lighting means involving the provision of aplurality of suitablyconnected elecgizing anordinary ceiling light in the disk I play roomwhen thelights of the fixture displayed are extinguished. A stillfurther objectis the provision 0 indicating means associated with therotary sup-port whereby the operator will know definitely in advanceexactly which fixture is being lowered. c

An additional object is the provision of mechanism of this characterwhich will be comparatively'simple in construction, easy to install,highly efficient in use, attractive in effect and a general improvementin the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view,-the inventionconsists in the detailsjofconstructlon to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

mechanism; 7

Figure 2 1s a vertical sectional view through the room showing my device111 pc- ;Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view looking upwardly towardthe true ceiling and illustrating my locking device;

V Figure f is a detail perspective view showing the guide means forcontrolling the descentof the fixtures; v

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through the false ceilingand showingthe electrical contacts and a diagram of the circuit; and

Figures 6 and 8 are detail'views.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown, in Figure 1,a possible and convenient arrangement of a display room. In this-figureI have illustrated the display room A as sub-divided into a plu r'alityof small rooms 13 which may be,if

preferred, furnished in different ways, for

instance torepresent a dining room, bed room, music 'room and livingroom so that ,when fixtures, aredisplayed 1n any ofthe;

tion as to such an arrangement.

including suitable joists 11 covered by a sheathing 12. At whateverpo'int itis desired to display fixtures this false ceiling "would beprovided with a circular hole '13 preferably"surrounded by a more orless ornamental molding 14. j

In the further carrying out of the invention 1 provide an upright post15 which is located at "some convenient point in the display room andwhich is provided at its upper-and lower ends with pivot pointsoperating within suitable bearings 16 located upon the true ceiling Cand upon the floor D; It is of course under'stood that the lower hearingbe either ofthe ball or roller type sothatthe' weight of the post andmechanismcarried thereby will be materially supported while at thesamegtime the post maybe easily rotated. Secured upon the upper portionof the pest, 'that is above the false ceiling '10, is a' 'series ofradial arms 17 of any prefer-red construction and of any suitable lengthand these arms are preferably reinforced by braces 18. The arms inust'ofcourse-he of such length'that they will reach from the post to a pointimmediately above-the "hole 13 in the sub-ceiling. In Figure l I haveshown the post as located centrally er the four small rooms each ofwhich has its sub-ceiling; provided with hole throi'rg h which fixturesmay be displayed will" be hereinafter described.

Mounted upon the free ends "of thear'ms 17 I are pulleys 19 over whichare trained flexible members 20 which may be small eables, ropes, wiresor the like and these flexible members lead downwardly along the post topoints near the lower end thereof, the extremities of the flexiblemembers carryin rin 's- 22' engaged upon suitable hooks 23 projectingfrom the periphery of th'e post.

The other 'endsof the flexible members carry the fixtures to bedisplayed, one of such fixtures being shown at E. It is preferable'thatthe post have inscribed thereon a series of numbers adjacent theflexible membersextending there along and it may also be ad visabletoprovide a ring or disk 24 secured upon the post immediately below'thehooks 23, thisdisk being; likewise inscribed with numbers correspondingto those first mentioned so that the operator'may tel l at a glancewhich particular fixture asso'eiat-ed with each individual flexiblemember. 'It

being intermediate their ends. "to be understood that I might make useof er the pest.

should also be mentioned that the post is preferably provided with-aseries of handles 25 by .means of which it may be turned to bring thediiferent fixtures successively above the hole 13. j

The suspension means for each fixture conthe like of a size to passthrough the hole 13 and be retained-upon the molding 14. This disk is ofcourse secured to both the fixture and the associated flexible member.It ispreferable to provide a plurality of upwardly andoutwardly curvedguides 27 which are located at the edge'of the hol'ef13 and which areengaged by the disk '26 when a fixture is lowered so that the disk willbe properly led into the hole 13. It is of course "to be observed thatthefixture is lowered simply by unhooking the ri'ng122 of the associatedflexible member from the hook 23 and allowing the fixture to descend bygravity. It is held desirable to provide means for sists of a circulardisk 26 ofwall board or holding the arms '17 stationary with the fix"ture desired to be displayed immediately above the hole 18 and inexact-alignment therewith. "Inorder; to accomplish this I provide a pairof elongated bars 28 pivoted upon the ceiling C at such'a position thattheir adjacent ends willb'e disposed above thehole 13. The. adjacentends are spaced very slightly apart and are designed to receive betweenthem whichever arm 17 car ries the fixture to be immediately displayed.These bars have curved edges 29 leading to. the space between their adjaeent'ends so that they will swing upon their pivot points wheninitially engaged by an arm 17 and allow the arm to slip into the spacebetween the ends. It is ofcourse conceivable that these bars might be,pivoted in different ways though I have shown thepivot points30 as It isalso normally holding thebars'in one position though in actual practiceI prefer "to provide flexible members '31 connected.

with the'fre'e ends of the barsr'trained ever made "pulleys 32carrying-weights "When an arm 17 is engaged between the bars 29 it isapparent that -the fixture will be iodated in the exact proper positionabove the 1101813; V

'In order to release thislocking' mecha nism to permit turn' .1: of thepost for dis playing successive fixtnre's; I-make use of a flexiblemember 34 which is trained over suitable guide pulleys and which has oneend branched, as indicated at 36 and connected with both ofthe bars 29at the adjacent ends thereof. This flexible member is trained downalongside the post 10 and has it's lower end connected witha treadle 27mounted upon the "floor adjacent the team When the operator presses uponthe treadle 37 both of the bars-f 29' will engageable with a contact 564with the-blade 55 and with the base 53 is be swung out of engagementwith the handle 17 so as to permit the post to be turned. As soon aspressure upon the treadle is released the weights 33 will return thebars 29 to normal position so that they will automatically engage thenext arm 17 as it comes around.

- l/Vhen a fixtureis lowered it is desirable to provide some means forpreventing it "from turning or twisting and to accomplish this I providea board 38 secured in edgewise position transversely of the disk 26 withits ends projecting slightly beyond the disk and shod with copper strips39 for a purpose to be described. Secured to this board 38 is atransversely disposed board 40 which has one end carrying an arm 41engageable between spaced upright guides 42 secured upon thesub-ceiling. The upper ends of these guides are provided with divergingstrips 43 which define a flaring 'entrance opening to the space betweenthe guides so as to lead the arm 41 properly into position as thefixture is lowered. It may be advisable to provide anti-friction rollers44 on the arm 41 for the purpose of insuring free and easy movement.Hinged upon the board38 is a board 45 which is formed with an elongatedslot 46 engaging upon a bar 47 depending from the arm 17. Located withinthe slot 46 is a roller 48 engaging against an edge of the bar 47 forinsuring free and easy movement.

I consider it preferable to provide means for automatically energizingthe electric points at the edge of the hole 13 and insulated from thewood work by means of suitable slate bases 50. These contacts 49 are solocated as to be engaged by the copper strips 39 on the ends of theboard 38. Connected with the copper strips are wires 51 and 52 whichlead through the fixtures to the sock ets thereof in the usual manner.In conjunction with these contacts I employ switch including a base 53ofinsulating material mounted near one of the contacts 49 and risingfrom this base 53 is a post 54 upon which is pivoted a switch blade 55Connected a retractile coil spring '57 which normally holds the switchblade 55 in engagement with the contact 56. The blade 55 is providedwith an extension 58 which extends within the adjacent contact 49whereby to be en gaged by the copper strip 39 at one end of the board38. The numeral 59 designates an ordinary incandescent lamp oftheceiling type which is located at some convenient point within thedisplay room. The numer- 63 which is connected with one of the con tacts49, I

The operation of the device is'as follows: Initially all the fixturesare of course sus pended from the arms 17 between the subceiling 10 andthe true ceiling C. Assuming that a certain fixture is to be displayed,the operator grasps one or more of the arms 25 and turns the post 15 to.bring the arm 12' carrying the desired fixture immediately above thehole 13. This is determined by means of the numbers on the disk 24, itbe ing of course apparent that the pointer arm 24" cooperates with markson this disk or ring so that this point may be properly de termined. Aspreviously stated, the arm 1? thus-brought over the hole 13 will betweenthe adjacent ends of the locking bars 29*and be held thereby in theexact position it should occupy. The operator then grasps the copperring22 and unhooks it 'from the hook. andallows the-fixture associatedtherewith to descend. As the fix;

ture moves downwardly the arm 41 will pass between the outwardly curvedstrips 43and be guided thereby into the space between the guides 42,while at the same time the slotted board 45 willf-slide down along thebar 47 depending from the associated arm 17. This will prevent anyturning or twisting of the fixture while it isbeing lowered.

As the fixture'nears its loweredpositionthe disk 26 will engage thecurved guide strips 27 and be led into the hole 13 so that it may.

rest upon the molding 14. At the same time the copper strips 39 at theend of the board 38 will enter the if-shaped contacts 4:9,one copperstrip engaging-the extension 58, one contact 49, through the wire 51 andthe lamps in the fixture back through the wire 52 and the other contact49 and thence that the fixture previously displayed should be pulled upinto its initial position by simply pulling down upon theassociatedfiexible m'ember and hooking the ring thereon on to the hook23 from which'it had previously been removed. After the locking meanshasThis will; of course result in been released by the treadle mechanismthe operator may turn the post 15 to bring any other cesired fixturedirectly over the hole 13 whereupon this other fixture may be lowered inthe same manner previously described. After the fixture has beendisplayed and is moved upwardly it will be apparent that the coil spring57 will operate to swing the blade so that the extension 58 will be outof engagement with the asso ciated contact 4-9 and so that the blades 55will engage the contact 56. hen this occurs it is of course apparentthat the lamps in the fixture will be deenergized while current willthen flow from the wire 60 to the post 54, blade 55, contact 56, wire62, through the lamp 59 and back through the wire 61 so that the ceilinglight will be energized. This action is of course automatic and needsvno attention.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will beapparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and arrangedmechanism whereby electric lighting fixtures may be adequately displayedso that the entire effect and artistic beauty thereof may be appreciatedfully. Owing to the automatic illumination of the fixture when it islowered to display posi-' tion it will be apparent that every detail ofcoloring of shades, translucent bowls and in fact everything of thisnature may be seen clearly and in a manner whichshould appeal to theprospective purchaser.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is of course to be readily understood that I reserve theright to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement ofparts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the sub-joined claims.

Having thus describedmyinvention, I claim: I i

1. A display device comprlsing the combination of a false ceiling havinga hole therein, of an upright rotatable post carrying a series of armslocated above the false ceiling, flexible members trained over pulleyson the arms and being detachably secured at the lower end of the post,said flexible members carrying fixtures to be displayed, said post beingrotatable to bring a selected arm and fixture above the hole whereby thefixture may be subsequently lowered by means of the associated flexiblemember.

' 2Q A-display device comprising the combination ofa false ceilinghaving a hole therein, of an upright rotatable post carrying a series ofarms located above the false ceiling, flexible members trained overpulleys on the arms and being detachably secured at the lower end of thepost, said flexible members carrying fixtures to be :dis-

played, said post being rotatable to bring a selected arm and fixtureabove the hole whereby the fixture maybe subsequently lowered by meansof the associated flexible member, the fixtures having sockets carryingincandescent bulbs, and means for automatically energizing said bulbswhen a fixture is in lowered position.

A display device comprising the com .bination of a false ceiling havinga hole ing incandescent bulbs, means for automat ically energizing saidbulbs when a fixture is in lowered posltlon, said means compr1smgcontacts located ad acent the hole and connected with a sourc'eofcurrent, and a v transverse member associated with the fix ture andcarrying contacts engageable with said first named contacts andconnected with the incandescent bulbs.

1. A displaydevice comprising the-combination of a false ceiling havinga hole therein, of an upright rotatable post carrying a series of armslocated above the false ceiling, flexible members trained over pu'l-,leys on the arms and being detachably secured at the lower portion ofthe post, said flexible members carrying fixtures'to be displayed, saidpost being rotatable to bring a selected arm and fixture above the hole.whereby the fixture may be subsequently lowered by means of theassociated flexible member, and guide means associated with each armwhereby to prevent turning of the fixture during descent.

, 5. A display device comprising thecombination of a -false ceilinghaving a. hole therein, of an upright rotatable post carrying a seriesof arms located above the false ceiling, flexible members trained overpulleys on the arms and being detachably secured at the lower portion ofthe post, said flexible members carrying fixtures to be dis played, saidpost being rotatable to bring a selected arm and'fixture above the holewhereby the fixture may be subsequently lowered by means oftheassociated flexible member, a disk associated with each fixture atthe point ofconnection thereof with the flexible member, a-transversemember carried by the disk and having a guide arm, and a pair of spacedupright guides located adjacent the hole and receiving said arm betweenthem.

6. A display device comprising the combi-nationof a false ceiling havinga hole therein, of anupright rotatable post carry mg a series of armslocated above the false ceiling, flexible members trained over pulleyson the arms and-being detachablysecuredat the lower portion of the 1Said flexible members carrying fixtures to be displayed, said post beingrotatable to bring a selected arm and fixture above the hole whereby theflxture may be subsequently lowered by means of the associated flexiblemember, a dis]: associated with each fixture at the point of connectionthereof with the flexible member, atransverse member carried by thedislr and having a guide arm, a pair of spaced upright guides locatedadjacent the hole and receiving said arm between them, a -second.transverse member carried by the disk, a slotted member hinged upon saidsecond named transverse memher, and a bar depending from the associatedarm and engaged by said slotted member. I v

7. A display device of the character described comprising thecombination ofa false ceiling located within a display room and having ahole, an upright post mounted for rotation and extending above saidfalse ceiling, a plurality of radial arms projecting from the post abovethe false ceiling, pulleys on said arms, a flexible member trained overeach set of pulleys and extending downwardly along the post, the fixtureto be displayed being suspended from the flexible members at the "endsof the arms, means carried by the post and detachably engaged by theother ends of the flexible members for holding said fixture normallyelevated and a locking device automatically engaging the successive armswhen the post is rotated for centering the fixtures above the hole.

8. A display device of the character described comprising thecombination of a false ceiling located within a display room and havinga hole, an upright post mounted for-rotation and extending above saidfalse ceiling, a plurality of radial arms projecting from the post abovethe false ceiling, pulleys on said arms, a flexible member trained overeach set of pulleys and extending downwardly along the post, thefixtureto be displayed being suspended from the flexible members at theends of the arms, means carried by the post and detachably engaged bythe other ends of the flexible members for holding said fixture normallyelevated, a locking device automatically engaging the successive .armswhen the post is rotated for centering the fixtures above the hole, andtreadle operated means for releasing said locking device.

9. A display device of the character 'de scribed comprising thecombination of a false ceiling located within a display room ing fromthe post above the false ceiling,"

pulleys on said arms, a flexible member trained over each set ofpulleysand ex" tending downwardly along the post, the fixture to be displayedbeing suspended from the flexible members at the ends of the arms, 1

means carried by the post and detachably engaged by the other ends ofthe flexible members for holding said fixture normally elevated, alocking device automatically en gaging the successive arms when the postis rotated for centering the fixtures above the hole, said lockingdevice comprising a pair of bars pivoted for swinging movement andhaving curved edges engageable by the successive arms, and meansfor'moving said bars out .of engagement with'an arm.

10. A display device of the character described comprising, thecombination of a false ceiling located within a display room and havinga hole, an upright post mounted for rotation and extending above saidfalse ceiling, a plurality of radial arms. projecting from the postabove the false ceiling, pulleys 011 said arms, a flexible membertrained over each set of pulleys and extending downwardly along thepost, theflxture to be displayed being suspended from the flexiblemembers at the ends of the arms, means carried by the post anddetachably engaged by the other ends of the flexible members for holdingsaid fixture normally elevated, a locking device automaticallyengagingthe successive arms when the post is rotated for centering thefixtures above the hole, said locking device comprising a pair of barspivoted for swinging movement and hav ing curved edges engageable by thesuccessive arms, means for moving said bars out of engagement with anarm comprising a branched flexible member connected with both bars,trained over guide pulleys and extending down along the post, and meansfor applying a pull to said last named flexible member.

11. A display device for electric fixtures comprising in combination afalse ceiling formed with a hole, an upright post carrying radial armsabove the false ceiling, said arms carrying electric fixtures to bedisplayed, said post being rotatable to bring the fixtures successivelyabove the hole, and pielans for lowering the fixture through the 10 e.

12. A display device for electric flxtures comprising in combination afalse ceiling formed with a hole, an upright post carrying radial armsabove the false ceiling, said arms carrying electric fixtures to bedisplayed, said post being rotatable to bring the fixtures successivelyabove they hole, means for lowering the fixture through the '13. Adisplay device for electric fixtures comprising in combination a falseceiling formed with a hole, an upright post carrying radial arms, abovethe false ceiling, said arms carrying electric fixtures to be dis- Jplayed, said post being rotatable to bring the fixtures successivelyabove the hole, means for lowering the fixture through the hole, a diskassociated withthe suspenslon means of each fixture and designed toenter andclose the hole when the fixture is lowered, anda plurality ofcurved upstanding guides located at the edge of the hole for centeringsaid disk.

14. A display device for electric fixtures comprising in combination afalse ceiling formed. with a hole, an upright post carrying radial armsabove the false ceiling,

displayed, said post being rotatable toibring the fixtures successively,above the hole,

hole, each fixture having sockets carrying incandescent bulbs, anindependent incandescent lamp arranged at a remote point, contactsarranged at the edges of said hole, other contacts associated with eachfixture and connected with the bulb carrying sockets thereof, a switchdevice having a movable .blade provided with an extension engagable byone of vsaid last named contacts to be moved thereby, into engagementwith the associated first nainedcontact, said first named contacts andsaid switch being interposed in a circuit including'a source of currentand said independent lamp.

In :testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CHARLES, THEOBALD i said arms carrying electric fixtures; to be. i

:25 means for lowering the fixtures through the 1

